When comparing Reason vs Studio One, the Slant community recommends Studio One for most people. In the question“What are the best DAWs?”Studio One is ranked 3rd while Reason is ranked 17th. The most important reason people chose Studio One is:

All components are laid out in an understandable fashion and almost everything is drag and drop.

Specs

Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking

Pros

Pro

Easy to learn

Reason is as easy to learn as any DAW, yet has incredible depth once you delve deeper, with some options that are just not possible in other DAWs.

Pro

Easy and intuitive while being feature rich

You can go really deep into creating sound and routing. Find possibilities you cant do with any other DAW.

Pro

Now supports VST

As of version 9.5, Reason now supports VSTs.

Pro

Multi FX presets

The multi fx are very nice. Great for transitions and complete sound management.

Pro

Amazing automation arrangement

Using clips makes it very easy to automate precisely.

Pro

Loop, convert and overdub on the fly

Pro

Supports MIDI out

MIDI out is a new addition in Reason, allowing feedback to MIDI devices.

Pro

Offers an easy way to quantize and slice audio

Reason makes it easy to stretch audio or slice it up for glitchy sound effects. When audio is loaded, it is analyzed so slice markers can be placed at the beginning and end of each note. Slice markers appear when the audio sample is double clicked.

Pro

Can convert audio to REX files

REX files record effects and slices on top of the original file, and will play audio at the tempo of a project. REX files provide many uses and are a great addition to Reason.

Pro

Massive free video tutorials content

Professionally produced tutorial videos often released by Propellerhead that show you how to use the software. Reason also has a thriving user base that offers video tutorials showing you how to do almost anything you need.

Pro

Mimics true hardware through a skeuomorphic GUI/UX

Reason's rack and mixer visually emulate real studio hardware through a skeuomorphic GUI/UX, allowing you to route audio cables and CV very intuitively. Hit "tab" on your computer keyboard, and you can see the rear of the rack, making routing very easy to understand.

Pro

Built in Audio Pitch Editor

Reason's Audio Pitch Editor easily can hold its own to Melodyne Essentials. Makes editing vocals and other monophonic sound very easy.

Pro

Modular enviroment

Synths, effects, and utilities can be modularly wired via audio and CV.

Pro

Easy to use DAW interface

All components are laid out in an understandable fashion and almost everything is drag and drop.

Pro

Efficient DAW workflow

The Studio One DAW doesn't expect users to deal with a lot of windows, answer questions, or use the mouse excessively. This DAW is known for lettings users be creative without getting in the way.

Pro

Automatic delay compensation

When a plugin takes time to process a sound, the Studio One DAW detects the gap and compensates.

Pro

Dedicated mastering page

Studio one has a page dedicated specifically to mastering which can be very useful when trying to finish your song

Pro

Melodyne built in

The Real Melodyne is integrated in the actual DAW. No other DAW is set up to streamline Melodyne.

Pro

Bounces MIDI in place

When bouncing from MIDI to audio, a new track won't be created, the clip will stay in the same place. When bouncing a specific part of a MIDI clip, it will be placed in a new track.

Pro

Insert plugins on actual events, not just tracks

Have you ever wanted a delay on just a word or so. No need to automate or move to a separate track. No need to print it to the clip and run out of room on the audio file. Simply amazing feature.

Pro

Awesome smart tool

Hovering over different parts of the events in the arrange window activates different tools.

Pro

Creative songwriting and arrangement tools

Use the 'scratch pad' work on multiple versions for your song without leaving the main window.

Pro

Multiple key command templates.

Use key commands from Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, etc....

Pro

Very stable DAW

Performance is rock solid and very efficient, even on lower spec computers.

Pro

Good interface compatibility

Works great with interfaces, and doesn't fight with ASIO drivers

Pro

Vocalign built in

Vocalign Project is can be integrated with the option to upgrade to Vocalign Pro.

Cons

Con

Mix only by ear

You can not type in a value in the mixer.

Con

Dated low resolution graphics (GUI/UX does not scale for 4K displays or higher)

Rack and mixer are still low resolution, designed for displays in the "pre-4K" era. Even on 1080p HD displays, the rack and mixer can be difficult to see and work with.

Con

No real support for synth hardware

SO3 cannot control your synth. You cannot see/control or access patches, their names, or SysEx. It seems that everything is centered around use of virtual instruments, and not hardware synth.

Con

No snap to zero crossing

Snap to zero crossing lines up audio's waveform at the optimum position so it won't sound glitchy. The Studio One DAW does not directly offer this feature.

Con

Bad customer service

Con

Poor waveform drawing

The waveform drawing looks like something from a much cheaper or free DAW from the 1990s.

Con

Doesn't support mp3 files

Con

Works out quite expensive

The full version of this DAW may justify its price by including VST and VSTi plugins, but the 'affordable' version does not support VST plugins out of the box. So you can't purchase the affordable version of this DAW and simply add VST plugins, either freeware or purchased ones.